Temple University Athletics
Temple Women's Basketball Ends Winning Streak At Seven With 64-55 Loss At Xavier
2.9.08 | Women's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2008
Cincinnati, Ohio- Ashley Morris netted 15 points, including 13 in the first half, and dished five assists but it was not enough to overcome a 12-point second half performance by Xavier's Amber Harris as the Temple women's basketball team ended its seven-game winning streak with a 64-55 defeat at Xavier on Saturday night. Temple rebounded from an early first half deficit to gain as much as a seven-point advantage with 18 minutes to play but ran out of gas as it falls to 14-11, 7-2 in the A-10.
Shenita Landry contributed six points, seven boards and four steals, while Lindsay Kimmel posted nine points on three-of-five shooting from long range.
Harris finished with 20 points to lead three Xavier players in double figures.
The first half was the Landry and Morris show, as the two accounted for most of Temple's offense and defense, thanks to fearless and aggressive play. Morris scored 13 points and dished three assists, while Landry game-highs of six boards and four steals to go along with five points. After a slow start, Temple rebounded to shoot nearly 45% from the field and grab 19 boards, as opposed to Xavier's 38% shooting and 18 rebounds. The Cherry and White finished with a 43.4% shooting clip and 27 boards.
Harris began the game with a 4-0 run for the Musketeers and Jeri Taylor added a trey to make it 6-0 at 18:20. Morris finally got the Owls started with a lay-up at the 18 minute mark but that would be their last basket until 15:40. Luckily for TU, its defense was able to hold Xavier scoreless for three minutes as well, allowing the game to stay close. The Musketeers kept plugging away and led 16-8 with 10 minutes to play. Temple finally settled and went on an 8-2 run to make it a two-point game, 18-16, with 7:50 remaining and though Xavier tried to distance themselves, the pesky Owls just wouldn't go away. A fast break pass from Morris and the ensuing three-pointer by Lindsay Kimmel began a 9-0 Temple run that gave Temple its first lead of the game, 27-22, with 1:53 remaining. Xavier's Taylor finally ended the home team's four minute scoreless drought with a lay-up at 1:30 and helped the 4-3 XU run to end the half with a 30-26 result.
Both teams began the second stanza with a turnover but Special Jennings was able to get the Musketeers a point from the free throw line at 19:22. Comfort started the second half scoring for the Owls with a jumper at 18:53 and began a 6-3 run that gave Temple a 36-29 advantage at 15:30. Three straight TU turnovers allowed the Musketeers to claw back within three points (36-33) at 13:51 and though Temple continually tried to distance themselves, it was now Xavier that wouldn't go away. Two free throws by Tudy Reed began an 8-0 run that put Xavier on top, 45-39, with eight minutes to play. Kimmel came to the rescue with a trey at 7:48 to make it 45-42, but the Musketeers answered with a 7-0 run that gave them a 10 point edge (52-42) at 5:18. Temple tried to mount a comeback, going on a 4-0 run in the final two minutes but were only able to get as close as five (58-53), before falling, 64-55.
Temple has a bit of time off before returning to action on February 17. The Owls will host Duquesne at 2 p.m.
